SS Jeremy Pena 2B Brice Matthews 3B Carlos Correa / Xavier Neyens DH Yordan Alvarez / Carlos Correa / Jose Altuve 1B Yainer Diaz RF Cam Smith LF Jesus Sanchez / Luis Baez C Walker Janek / Yainer Diaz CF Jacob Melton
Fun to flash back to Nov 2024. We (or at least I) were worried about needing to maximize 2025 season bc we were looking at losing Bregs this offseason, last year of Tucker and Framber, holes at 1B and 3B, and window starting to close. The events since - Tucker trade, walker signing, Pena stardom, bullpen from nowhere, law firm of Walter Alexander and Gordon, Correa Sanchez and urias trades, and return of Javier and Garcia - have completely reset things. Pure insanity in 7.5 months.
The Tucker trade and getting Correa back for a pittance were absolutely huge positive developments for the Astros. It’s possible they added upwards of $300M in total surplus value from 2026 forward with those moves.
I wonder if the Astros would consider trading Pena in the offseason. It would take a massive package, but if you could build a deal around a stud SS and SP prospect, I might consider it. Move Correa back to SS for a season or two until the prospect is ready.
Very analogous to the 2019-2020 covid year transition: Losing Cole, JV out with injury, Springer's last year, Yordan lost for the season (well, that's a similar trend).... but then you get the ascension of Framber/Tucker along with Javier, Garcia, Urquidy (supplementing the best full year of LMJ along with Greinke), and they're back in in the WS in 2021 and win it all in 2022. Anybody else remember Correa being top 5 in the MVP race that year (2021) and playing 148 games? His last full year as an Astro... before next season starts. With all the injuries this year, having any regular play more than 140 games seems crazy!
If you can get a return similar to what the Nats got for Juan Soto it absolutely makes sense. Basically 3 Cam Smith level prospects plus 2 Juan Bello level prospects. Like I said, I expect Houston to have a very exciting offseason and be linked to tons of rumors; what they actually do remains to be seen, but they have a few versatile, valuable, tradeable assets. I am totally comfortable with the Astros going into 2026 with this position player roster: LF Altuve 3B Paredes SS Correa DH Alvarez 1B Walker RF Smith C Diaz 2B Matthews CF Meyers Bench: Sanchez, Urias, Salazar, Trammell That would mean Pena, Melton, Dubon, and McCormick were all traded.
@IdStrosfan @Snake Diggit @Wulaw Horn just hypothetical thought, do you think maybe in the offseason Cam Smith can work on playing CF? Or you think it's best for him to stick at RF going forward?
I think he could handle CF. He has the athleticism and intelligence for it. It may not be ideal, he might be just average there, but I think he’d be a better CF than Jesus Sanchez right away and he’d probably eventually be better than McCormick.
I only mentioned that so that we can have up and coming corner OFs or Sanchez is a mainstay at one of the corner OF spots.
He 100% has the athleticism to do it, and for a guy who had never played the OF before his instincts out in RF are pretty good. With an offseason of work I think he could be well above average there Personally, I think there is a good chance that Melton ends up being our long term CF though
The Astros had him working out in CF earlier this year before Meyers took the job. I have not heard if they gave up, stopped, or just stopped reporting it. I think continuing to help him become a plus RF and MLB hitter is just as valuable and important.
He absolutely needs to try to play CF and see if he can do it at a good level. Guys always need to play the hardest defensive position they can master to have the most value. I love the season Jake gave us but it’s pretty low calorie offense when you just don’t drive the ball. If Smith can be 80% of Jake in the field he has to play CF, Jesus Sanchez in RF (against RHP) and Altuve in LF with Melton and Alvarez mixed in some. Dezenzo against LHP. Trade Jake. This is of Smith can handle CF only.
